1
as in fear
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
Dorothy's anxiety about her brother's operation kept her awake all night
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dread
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
the newly discovered virus is creating considerable anxiety in the public at large
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anxiety
It’s now being used to treat migraines, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, and anxiety.
—
Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Norton’s father said the Pippins provide the visual icon to fight the stigma that is attached to the conversation around anxiety, depression, and mental health.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
The brain, already primed by expectation or anxiety, magnifies those sensations, producing very real pain, bloating, brain fog, fatigue or mood swings.
—New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
Stress is a major trigger for many people with axSpA, which means keeping anxiety and stress levels as low as possible can be as important as physical care.
—Cheyenne Buckingham, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxiety
Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Norton’s father said the Pippins provide the visual icon to fight the stigma that is attached to the conversation around anxiety, depression, and mental health.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
The brain, already primed by expectation or anxiety, magnifies those sensations, producing very real pain, bloating, brain fog, fatigue or mood swings.
—New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
Stress is a major trigger for many people with axSpA, which means keeping anxiety and stress levels as low as possible can be as important as physical care.
—Cheyenne Buckingham, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxiety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxiety
Noun
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Despite the occasional mutual love, progressives have argued that Sliwa has previously stoked racist fears and encouraged vigilante aggression.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Glossier is supporting other alumni of its 5-year-old grant program this year because of the challenges so many of these emerging brands are facing—and despite political fear among many other companies to keep these kinds of programs going.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Melissa's mysteries capture interest Hurricane scientists watched with a familiar feeling of dread as Melissa traversed the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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Imagine not suffering existential dread over Tilly Norwood; imagine the freedom to choose to use AI for interstitial shots without kicking the Letterboxd hornets’ nest, as did the brothers Cairnes with Late Night With the Devil back in 2024.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The deployment has also raised concerns about racial profiling, wrongful arrests, and political pressure on law enforcement to align with federal immigration crackdowns.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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He was included on the short list of presidential candidates in 2022 when Democrats started airing concerns about then-President Joe Biden's ability to run for a second term.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Redirect their attention If your dog is anxious and barking in a panic, your first step is to remove them from the trigger.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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At times, though, the panic would close in on me.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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For Dillon Robertson, 32, money is a constant worry.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
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The latter film was made based on the confessions of young people living in Latvia who openly spoke of patronizing teachers and parents, worries for the future and fears over fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.—
Will Tizard,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But each story adds to the uncertainty and unease in the air.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
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The unease was amplified by the woman’s explanation that the prints appeared in an area of the apartment not easily accessed.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That mixture of terror and safety is the secret sauce for Mike Jubie, creator of the Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses in New York’s historic Hudson Valley.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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On the other, a vision of what life would be like without the terror group.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Audiences just can’t get enough of films that offer frights and scares, or even family-friendly flicks that pay homage to spooky season.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Horror anthologies are a tradition in British cinema, and this collection of bite-sized frights is the granddaddy of them all.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anxiety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxiety. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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